Category Archives: Book Clubs

Book Review The Woman in the Library

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The woman in library by Sulari Gentill

Description

‘And then there is a scream. Ragged and terrified. A beat of silence even after it stops, until we all seem to realise that the Reading Room Rules no longer apply.’

Hannah Tigone, bestselling Australian crime author, is crafting a new novel that begins in the Boston Public Library: four strangers; Winifred, Cain, Marigold and Whit are sitting at the same table when a bloodcurdling scream breaks the silence. A woman has been murdered. They are all suspects, and, as it turns out, each character has their own secrets and motivations – and one of them is a murderer.

While crafting this new thriller, Hannah shares each chapter with her biggest fan and aspirational novelist, Leo. But Leo seems to know a lot about violence, motive, and how exactly to kill someone. Perhaps he is not all that he seems…

The Woman in the Library is an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship – and shows that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all.

Comments

Our readers found this book to be an entertaining mystery.

Set in Boston with many landmarks noted, this novel was very enjoyable to “google view.” The Boston Library and venues mentioned were well described. The author had researched her setting well.

The writing structure of “a book within a book” was enjoyed by many but a little confusing for a few.

The author writing a murder mystery as a fiction novel while her own potential murder is creeping up on her simultaneously with the story development.

The character of Leo, seemingly an aspired fan, ends each chapter by remotely giving advice and feedback to her character development, story line and proposing  Americanisms that would be helpful in her narration. Leo, however, quickly develops into someone much more sinister adding to many twists and turns to the story.  Some readers found some of the support characters were underdeveloped and the incidents of police nonchalance unbelievable. Many were disappointed with the ending but overall our group enjoyed this book, particularly for it’s uniqueness.

Read by MJ Readers

Book Review We Solve Murders

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We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Combining the heart and humour of The Thursday Murder Club with a puzzling international mystery, welcome to the blockbusting new series from the biggest new fiction author of the decade, Richard Osman.

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers the pub quiz and afternoons at home with his cat Trouble. His days of adventure are over – that’s his daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul, which makes being a private security officer to billionaires the perfect job. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending Steve an SOS . . .

As a breakneck race around the world begins, can they stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?

Comments

This book was well received by our readers. Described mostly as a very enjoyable read.

The comparison was invariably made to Richard Osmans previous series The Thursday Murder Club. All of our readers enjoyed that series.

The key characters were very liked by the group, fun characters 

A key criticism by many was that there were too many characters, often with cliched development.

It was almost necessary to keep a list of the characters to follow the story. The story was also too convoluted for some readers, destinations were all over the place and the reasoning seemed unnecessary and often unbelievably outlandish.

There were, however, many good giggle moments and emotionally warm relationship portrayals between key characters.

We felt it was almost written with a TV series in mind!

A recommended read for readers who are looking for  a light, fun story.

Read by MJ Readers Book Group

Book Review The Happiest Man on Earth

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The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku

Summary

WINNER OF THE ABIA BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021

Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.

Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp.

Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on a Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country.

Because he survived, Eddie made the vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. He now believes he is the ‘happiest man on earth’.

Published as Eddie turns 100, this is a powerful, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful memoir of how happiness can be found even in the darkest of times.

Published by Pan Macmillan Australia

Comments

This book was liked very much by most of our readers. Described, surprisingly, as a happy read.

Most readers described this book to be a very uplifting story from a man who experienced such harrowing personal experiences and such great loss as a young man.

Eddy tells his story as one of the many unsettling personal  recollections of a holocaust survivor.

In the beginning of the book he describes his families perception of themselves as being good and loyal Germans who greatly loved their country. The thought that their fellow countrymen would turn on them so violently was initially beyond their belief. 

His story is short and simply written, giving detail to his personal experience with his education and skill learning that would stand him in good stead in dire life threatening moments throughout his incarceration and then later on in his life. He details many personal moments where his life was saved at the last moment by a quirk of fate and moments of being let down by people he considered to be friends.

His story also emphasises his love for his family and friends, his great will to survive his horror experience and his hopes for building a new future away from that place of cruelty and enslavement.

A few readers were wary of reading another “holocaust story” but Eddy moves on to rebuild his life in Australia with his own personal philosophy of resilience and compassion making a vow to bring happiness each day and to build a good life with his family.

In this Eddy is successful, and by sharing his story he uplifts his readers with the life choice that he makes and shares.

Read by MJ Readers August 2025

Book Review All the Light We Cannot See

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All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr

About the book

Marie-Laure has been blind since the age of six. Her father builds a perfect miniature of their Paris neighbourhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. But when the Nazis invade, father and daughter flee with a dangerous secret.

Werner is a German orphan, destined to labour in the same mine that claimed his father’s life, until he discovers a knack for engineering. His talent wins him a place at a brutal military academy, but his way out of obscurity is built on suffering.

At the same time, far away in a walled city by the sea, an old man discovers new worlds without ever setting foot outside his home. But all around him, impending danger closes in.

Comments

All The Light We Cannot See tells the stories of Marie-Laure, a blind girl growing up in Paris and Werner, a young boy growing up in a German orphanage set during the Nazi occupation of France.  This novel was beautifully written, with very well thought out sentences. The pace was a little slow to start, setting the scene and introducing us to the all the characters.  However, the short, sharp chapters kept the story moving along.  While we enjoyed the story being told from different points of view, we did struggle a little when the timeline jumped around.

While we enjoyed Marie-Laure’s story; her bravery and courage during the war & her connection with her uncle, Etienne,  we really connected with Werner and his sister Jutta, and the characters Werner encounters when he starts training with the German army.  We felt Werner internal struggle throughout the story was particularly poignant.    While the ending felt a little long, we loved hearing what happened to Jutta, and where she ended up, however, some of it could have been a little more condensed or even wrapped up one chapter earlier. 

Overall we would recommend this book and think it would make a great holiday read. While it’s a heavy subject, the author seems to find the beauty in these tragic events.

Read by the Cultcha Club Book Club – 8/10

Book Review Seven Sisters

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Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic

About the book

Men get away with murder all the time. Now it’s our turn …

Naomi started grief counselling prepared to run for cover as soon as her therapist, Mia, pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras.

When Mia suggests that she join a support group, Naomi is sceptical: how could she begin to describe what it felt like to lose her sister, Jo? How could she possibly share her loss and rage to a room full of people? How could she express her helplessness that Jo’s killer walks free on a suspended sentence?

And how could she share her deepest desire to see Jo’s killer dead by her hand?

In the group sessions, Naomi finds that her experiences and her anger are shared between the other members: Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under the enigmatic leadership of Mia, a plan begins to take shape.

I’ll kill yours if you kill mine …

Comments

Not a fluent read, wasn’t a psychological thriller. Didn’t get to know the characters; too many characters. Ulbrick is like a dog with a bone, wouldn’t let the investigation go, wouldn’t report the others.

Read by The Borrowers Book Club